Cover Story – 91̽�� (JGU) | India’s No.1 Private University

JGU opens Chief Justices of India Museum at its campus

vkumar1@jgu.edu.in — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:13:34 +0000

JGU has established at its campus the Chief Justices of India Museum, a historic and one-of-a-kind permanent national institution that seeks to preserve the legacy of India’s constitutional judiciary while inspiring future generations to uphold the constitutional promise of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Located adjacent to the Nyayabhyasa Mandapam, the world’s largest moot court, India’s first Museum of the Chief Justices extends the vision of India’s first Constitution Museum by honouring the Supreme Court’s guardianship of these constitutional values. It pays tribute to the Chief Justices of India and generations of judges whose wisdom, integrity, and leadership have strengthened the rule of law and enriched India’s constitutional democracy for posterity.

Universities are entrusted with preserving knowledge while nurturing constitutional understanding, critical inquiry, and informed citizenship. The Chief Justices of India Museum reflects this enduring mission by documenting, interpreting, and preserving the leadership, jurisprudence, and institutional legacy of the Supreme Court of India in shaping the constitutional journey of the nation.

Together with the Constitution Museum, it stands as a lasting institution of learning, scholarship, reflection, and public engagement with the ideals, institutions, and constitutional values that sustain the Republic. Through this museum, we aspire to deepen constitutional literacy, strengthen democratic consciousness, foster respect for the rule of law and judicial independence, and inspire present and future generations to recognise that the preservation of constitutional values is a shared national responsibility.

The Chief Justices of India Museum explores justice as an evolving idea, tracing how the Supreme Court of India, through its Chief Justices and Judges, has shaped the nation’s constitutional democracy. It presents the office of the Chief Justice as a living institution that has interpreted, protected, and strengthened the Constitution through moments of national transformation.

By bringing together law, history, memory, scholarship, and public engagement, the museum celebrates the collective legacy of successive Chief Justices and reflects on how their leadership has guided the constitutional journey of independent India through moments of challenge, change, and transformation. It offers visitors an opportunity to understand not only the evolution of constitutional jurisprudence but also the enduring role of the judiciary in safeguarding democratic institutions and the rule of law.

Collections & Experiences

The museum houses an abundance of historical material on the Chief Justices of India and their landmark judgments, alongside an exclusive Oral History Project documenting the lives of the living Chief Justices beyond the Bench. Through these conversations, they share their epiphanies, aspirations, experiences, and inspirations, offering unique insights into the human dimensions of judicial leadership.

The museum also creates reflective spaces through artistic interpretations of significant constitutional judgments and the guiding principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, inviting every visitor to contemplate their own role in the universal pursuit of justice and the preservation of constitutional democracy.

Five Galleries

The museum comprises five galleries, each with a distinct character and purpose.

Gallery I – Pathways to Justice explores social movements and landmark Supreme Court decisions that transformed India’s constitutional landscape through artistic renderings.

Gallery II – Pillars of Justice invites visitors to discover the lives, leadership, and legacies of the Chief Justices who shaped the Supreme Court of India.

Gallery III – Hall of Constitutional Voices preserves the living memory of constitutional justice through archival recordings and oral histories.

Gallery IV – Keystones of Justice brings defining constitutional judgments to life through immersive exhibits that illuminate the process and significance of constitutional decision-making.

Gallery V – Ideas of Justice functions as a sculpture garden that invites visitors to reflect upon their own responsibilities as citizens in upholding the ideals of justice, constitutional morality, and democratic citizenship.

The Chief Justices of India Museum is a space where the JGU community and the wider public can trace the remarkable journey of India’s constitutional democracy, engage deeply with the ideas and institutions that have shaped our Republic, and renew their commitment to the ideals enshrined in the Preamble and realised through the Constitution of India.

JGU ranked India’s best state-private university in Outlook-ICARE India University Rankings

Zubair Jamil — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 05:58:54 +0000

JGU has retained its rank as the first and best state-private university in India in the prestigious Outlook -ICARE India University Rankings 2023 for the second year in a row.

The rankings have recognised Jindal Global Law School as the first ranked and best private law institute in India. The BBA programme of Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) is ranked the first and the best BBA programme in India. JGBS launched the BBA programme only in 2016 and it has become its flagship programme and has been ranked as number 1 in India in barely 7 years.

The Outlook-ICARE Rankings is one of the most trusted university rankings of India, with an extensive and fair methodology which is subject to extensive research and continuous refinement. Their ranking methodology evaluates Higher Education Institutions based on five core criteria in a final overall score on a scale of 1000:

Academic and Research Excellence
Industry Interface and Placements
Infrastructure & Facilities
Governance & Admissions
Diversity & Outreach

JGU has scored impressively in all the parameters and acquired the highest score ever acquired by a private university with a total score of 922.44 points out of 1000, making JGU India’s first ranked state-private university.

For more information on these rankings, please visit: []

JGU is ranked as the No. 1 Private University in India by the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2023 for the third year in a row. JGU has also been recognised in the Top 500 Universities as per the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022. In April 2023, JGLS retained its position as the No. 1 Law School in India as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. JGU retained the top spot in the Education World India Private University Rankings 2023-24 for the category of Liberal Arts and Humanities.

JGU announces 2,000+ scholarships for 2024 to commemorate its 15th anniversary

Zubair Jamil — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:14:02 +0000

JGU has announced that it would award more than 2,000 scholarships to deserving students for the forthcoming academic year 2024-25. This decision of the university will enable more than 60% of the new students admitted in 2024 to receive these scholarships.

The awarding of the scholarship would depend on the students’ annual family income, last qualifying examination score, JSAT (Jindal Scholastic Aptitude Test) or any other relevant standardised examination results and faculty interview score (where applicable).

Professor C. Raj Kumar, founding Vice Chancellor of JGU said: “We are most delighted to announce this transformative initiative to award over 2,000+ scholarships to our incoming students in 2024. JGU believes education to be a beacon of opportunity for all, regardless of their family background or economic standing. Our Founding Chancellor and benefactor Naveen Jindal has always recognised the importance of access to education for the deserving students, regardless of their financial circumstances. The most tangible expression of this commitment is our generous scholarship programme. During the last 14 years, JGU has awarded over Rs 250 crore in scholarships and almost half of the students studying at JGU have been recipients of these scholarships. It has been a life-changing experience for our students as they got access to a world-class education, which they may not have been able to afford. Our commitment to providing scholarships is not just a policy; it is a reflection of our deep-seated belief that education is a powerful tool for social change.”

Professor Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, Registrar, JGU, said, “The award of over 2,000+ scholarships in 2024 will enable JGU to place the student experience at its core, which is further fuelled by dynamic academia-industry interface and partnerships with national and international institutions.”

Professor Upasana Mahanta, Dean, Admissions and Outreach, JGU, said, “JGU’s announcement of over 2,000+ scholarships in 2024 will pave the way for democratisation of higher education with a strong emphasis on access, diversity, and inclusion. Our scholarships are not just about supporting students; they are about fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment. We firmly believe that this diversity is a source of strength, innovation and progress.”

Justice K.V. Viswanathan delivers Soli J. Sorabjee Memorial Lecture organised by JGU

Zubair Jamil — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:02:07 +0000

Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.V. Viswanathan, Judge, Supreme Court of India, delivered the Soli J. Sorabjee Memorial Lecture organised by JGU on October 14 to honour the memory of renowned jurist and former Attorney General of India.

In his speech, Justice Viswanathan said: “Soli J. Sorabjee was a defender of the Constitution and human liberties. He was a champion of federalism, a defender of minority rights. He was a strong advocate for free and fair elections and a leader of the bar who fought for independence of judiciary. He had a deep sense of public service and was a strong supporter of free speech and will be remembered for his scholarship, his knowledge and his many landmark judgements. He was also a great protagonist of the value of fraternity, a value which was most visible during the pandemic, as laid down in our Constitution. He deeply believed in the rule of law which for him was not just a legalistic slogan, but a noble concept and denoted a way of life.”

Justice Viswanathan also awarded the Soli J. Sorabjee Endowment Award & Scholarship instituted by JGU to Ms. Pragati Thapa for securing highest score in the course ‘Human Rights Law & Theory’ at Jindal Global Law School (JGLS). The Soli J. Sorabjee Endowment Award and Scholarship has been established with the aid of a generous endowment instituted by Mr. Satvik Varma, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, in his personal capacity for a period of 20 years.

The Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar observed: “The Distinguished Lecture Series is not just a way of remembering a legal luminary but also to celebrate a scholarly life dedicated to the promotion of rule of law. Those who have been associated Soli. J. Sorabjee were touched by his profound understanding of law and by his erudition. He is remembered for his contribution and commitment to advancing the cause of legal education and legal profession.”

Mr. Satvik Varma recalled that he established the Soli. J. Sorabjee Endowment at JGLS to recognise the importance of providing quality legal education for students. “This award recognises the academic achievement of a student in the field of human rights, which was an area closer to Sorabjee’s heart. This award will encourage future generations of lawyers to focus on human rights as an area of expertise.”

Professor (Dr.) S.G. Sreejith, Executive Dean, JGLS, recalled the intellectual convictions and sensibilities of Soli Sorabjee and the depth that he brought to the subject. “Sorabjee had unwavering faith in the emancipatory powers of the Constitution and he was a constitutionalist in the true sense of the term. He cherished the maternity of democracy, the paternity of egalitarianism, and the tutelage of the Constitution.”

The memorial lecture also included a panel discussion moderated by Vice Chancellor Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar and included Mr. R. Venkataramani, Attorney General for India; Ms. Madhavi Divan, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India; andhttps://l.jgu.edu.in/Soli-J-Sorabjee-Memorial-Lecture-2023 Mr. Satvik Varma, Senior Advocate, Supreme Cohttp://Soli-J-Sorabjee-Memorial-Lecture-2023urt of India.

Watch Soli Sorabjee Memorial Lecture:

Pace University and JGU to offer dual degree programmes in law, business from 2024

Zubair Jamil — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:51:17 +0000

Pace University, New York, and JGU have established collaborations to offer dual degree courses and other student and teacher exchange programmes. Initially, the two universities will start dual degree masters courses in law and business from 2024.

A delegation from Pace University led by its President, Professor Marvin Krislov, visited JGU in November to foster long-term collaborations and partnerships across various academic disciplines. The visit was aimed to expand collaboration into new areas, including psychology, social sciences, finance, and public health.

The visit witnessed establishment of partnerships between Jindal Global Law School and Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) with the Elisabeth Haub School of Law and Lubin School of Business, respectively. These partnerships encompass initiatives such as student exchange programmes and dual degree programmes.

Founding Vice Chancellor of 91̽��, Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar said, “Partnerships between institutions go beyond state-level diplomatic and strategic relationships and they shape the future of the relationship.”

Professor Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University said, “The US colleges teach students to engage productively with a wider world, how to exist in the adult world. There is a key difference in the demography of India and the US as India has a very large section of the population in the 18-22-year group. There is also a greater desire for higher education and graduate degrees. Access to higher education leads to more economic benefits. We call our educational model the Pace Path: a powerful combination of academic instruction and hands-on experiential learning that sets our students up for success immediately upon graduation.”

One of the key highlights of the visit was the signing of the Semester Abroad Agreement between JGBS, Jindal School of Banking & Finance (JSBF), and the Lubin School of Business at Pace University. Under the Semester Abroad Agreement, students from JGBS and JSBF will have the chance to immerse themselves in the dynamic academic environment of the Lubin School of Business. This international exposure will provide them with invaluable and enriching cross-cultural learning experiences, gaining access to expert faculty members at Pace University.

JGU, University of Delhi join hands to host 74th annual All India Commerce Conference

Zubair Jamil — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 05:13:47 +0000

JGU and Department of Commerce, Faculty of Commerce and Business, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, joined hands to host the 74th annual All India Commerce Conference (AICC) of Indian Commerce Association during December 13-15. The conference, held at the campuses of both universities, was attended by more than 2,500 delegates from different parts of India and abroad.

The inaugural session featured Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lt. Governor of Delhi, as the Chief Guest, while Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, presided over the opening. Mr Bandaru Dattatreya, Governor of Haryana, was the Chief Guest for the Valedictory Session.

The overarching theme of the 74th AICC was “One Earth-One Family-One Future”, with parallel sessions addressing various themes such as the National Education Policy 2020’s impact on commerce & management education, business transformation in the digital economy, the evolution from industry 4.0 to industry 5.0, entrepreneurship, innovation, start-ups, Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and empirical research in the world economy, among others.

Highlighting the conference’s importance in aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU, emphasised the role of institutions in empowering Indian youth through commerce and management education.

Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Professor at Delhi School of Economics, stressed the significance of the collaboration between University of Delhi and JGU in hostin

JGU establishes Office of Interdisciplinary Studies

Zubair Jamil — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:21:46 +0000

JGU has launched one-of-its-kind Office of Interdisciplinary Studies to be led by Professor Deepanshu Mohan who will serve as its Dean. Created as part of JGU’s core value and mission of promoting interdisciplinarity and a cross-fertilisation of research thought across schools, this Office shall pursue a novel multidisciplinary, research-ecosystem based approach, with the initiation of diverse interdisciplinary research-based constellations.

Initiated as IDEA: Inter Disciplinary Engagement Across Disciplines, drawing upon JGU’s core values, the new Office of Interdisciplinary Studies at JGU will be one of the first institutions in the global universities network working singularly with a vision to incubate interdisciplinary research as an interdomain, institutional space for cross-pedagogical learning across universities, while entrenching its core principles, ethos in the application of interdisciplinary thought and praxis across disciplines at JGU.

This Office’s main research mandate at JGU shall be to involve a gradual, measured process of building a new constellation of diverse research themes using dynamic, interdisciplinary thought-architecture that goes beyond the normative, applied axes of mainstream (social science) scholarship.

Under the leadership of Prof. Mohan and his team, this Office will involve cross-appointments of Lecturers, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors from across JGU Schools, Institutes, with domain expertise across different fields of scholarship, from law to economics to history to sociology to anthropology to urban studies, etc. and anyone interested in working beyond the narrow contours of their disciplines.

A few IDEA-Research Constellations created within the Office of Interdisciplinarity Studies feature:

Global Inequality Studies: Study, Measurement and Progress
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Ethics, Practice and Application Across Disciplines
Spatial Design in Study of International Migration, Mobility Studies
Political Economy of Risk and Conflict Analysis in International Relations
Interdisciplinary Methods Lab: Designing New Experiments Across Social Science Pedagogies and Research Methods

Each of the above IDEA-Research Constellations functioning within the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies would comprise of a core-group of two research fellows (one Senior Research Fellow and one Junior Research Fellow) as cross-appointments of Lecturers, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors from JGU-wide Schools, working with Dean Mohan, who will anchor the Constellation and the group of researchers for each thematic grouping.

JGLS interdisciplinary research outshines faculty publications by top 4 NLUs

Zubair Jamil — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 09:04:25 +0000

Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) of JGU continues its knowledge production with a shifting focus on interdisciplinarity. JGLS researchers published over 175+ publications in a variety of Scopus-indexed sources in 2023, representing an increase of over 25 per cent over the previous year and has surpassed the total number of similar publications from the top 4 National Law Schools in the country by over 60 per cent. The research has been published in some of top ranking and renowned journals globally.

In previous years, JGLS’s faculty members had published highly impactful research in some of the world’s most renowned law journals. While they continue to influence decision-making through similar publications, mindful of the larger global reconstitution of human socialisation, JGLS has strategically shifted its focus on knowledge that goes beyond conventionally set disciplinary boundaries.

On the shifting focus and this result, Prof. (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU and Founding Dean of JGLS, said, “It is a strong and well-informed conviction that contemporary global issues require global approaches. Being global in willing and acting is the founding motto and functional style of JGU. We also strongly feel that limiting oneself to the parochialism of disciplinary loyalty is epistemic injustice, at least in our times. It is with such equitable sentiments that the faculty members of JGLS and JGU engage in interdisciplinary research. There is no disciplinary disloyalty here. That is to say, instead of breaking their own disciplinary convictions, they have invited expertise from other disciplines in the form of collaborations. Their openness to knowledge, in the spirt of, and reiterating, the classical Indian wisdom, Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah (Let noble thoughts come to us from everywhere), has caused this extraordinary result.”

He said interdisciplinarity being the future approach to knowledge production, JGU has established the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies for building frameworks-clusters, networks, loops, and incubators-for the production and dissemination of interdisciplinary knowledge. All schools of JGU, including JGLS, will be the beneficiaries of this Office.

In 2023, over 50 per cent of the publications by JGLS that featured in Scopus-indexed forums were achieved through inter-institutional collaborations with various national and international institutes of repute.

The school has built a research ecosystem-based on the slogan of “publish and flourish” that is more congenial for the production of interdisciplinary knowledge, which includes faculty conversation series, writers’ boot camps, research colloquia, meet the author/publisher series, and reading groups.

The various law journals where JGLS faculty members have published their legal and interdisciplinary research include:

King’s Law Journal
Statute Law Review
Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal
Liverpool Law Review
International Arbitration Law Review
Journal of Intellectual Property Rights
Asian Journal of International Law
Australian Feminist Law Journal
International Review of Law, Computers and Technology

The interdisciplinary forums where JGLS faculty members have published include:

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs
Onati Socio-Legal Series
Social Science and Medicine
Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters
Healthcare
Journal of Religion and Popular Culture
Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures
The Routledge Handbook of Mega-Sporting Events and Human Rights
Legal Pluralism and Critical Social Analysis
Handbook of Research on Exploring Gender Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Through an Intersectional Lens
Women and Criminal Justice
European Journal of Risk Regulation
Canadian Journal of Development Studies
Contemporary South Asia
Journal of Data Protection and Privacy

JGU invited to join Worldwide Universities Network

Zubair Jamil — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:50:13 +0000

91̽�� (JGU) is invited to join the membership of the (WUN), a highly selective network of 24 research-intensive universities around the world. JGU will be the first university from India and South Asia to join the prestigious grouping.

As part of the WUN, JGU and member universities will work with a particular focus to address and ‘tackle sustainable development challenges. This is a step in the right direction towards promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by progressively undertaking collaborative research activities to meet them in consonance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP 2020 is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st-century education and the SDGs, which allows academic institutions to innovate and set a vision to fulfil their targets.

WUN fosters international research collaborations to study and address problems of global significance and provides support for early career researchers through the research development fund to work on the overarching themes of sustainable development. The Research Mobility Program of the WUN also provides opportunities for postgraduate and postdoctoral students to broaden their professional networks and gain specialised experience in an international context. At undergraduate level, WUN promotes initiatives that bring students from multiple partner universities together for shared research experience, such as the WUN Summer School.

JGU Vice Chancellor addresses Japanese Parliament

Zubair Jamil — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 06:33:32 +0000

At the invitation of the Japanese Parliamentary Committee of the World Federation, the Founding Vice Chancellor of 91̽�� (JGU), Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, addressed a caucus of over 20 distinguished Members of Japanese Parliament, the Diet, which also included the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Mr. Masahito Moriyama.

Prof. Raj Kumar is also the first Indian Vice Chancellor to be invited to speak at the Japanese Parliament for addressing the distinguished MPs and public officials of the Government of Japan. The Japanese Parliamentary Committee of the World Federation had invited Prof. Raj Kumar to share his views on issues relating to India’s national education policy, bilateral relations, development agenda and global governance.

The committee comprised of the some of the most distinguished members of the house of representatives of the Japanese Parliament and other public officials: Mr. Mitsuo Ohashi, Chairman, Japanese Parliamentary Committee of the World Federation; Professor Masakuni Tanimoto, Under Secretary General, Japanese Parliamentary Committee of the World Federation; Mr. Kiyoshi Odawara, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan; H.E. Mr. Makoto Hayashi, Deputy Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Takahiro Kanamori, Representative, Friends of the United Nations, Asia-Pacific; Dr. Hirobumi Niki, Member of the House of Representatives, Liberal Democratic Party; Dr. Masahito Moriyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan; Mr. Seishiro Eto, Member of the House of Representatives, Former Vice Speaker, House of Representatives; Ms. Motoko Mizuno, Member, House of Councillors, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; Mr. Satoshi Asano, Member of the House of Representatives, Democratic Party for the People; Mr. Kenta Aoshima, Member of the House of Councillors; Ms. Ayaka Shiomura, Member of the House of Councillors; Mr. Makoto Hayashi, Deputy Assistant Minister & Ambassador, ASEAN, Asian and Oceanian Bureau and Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department; and Dr. Sukehiro Hasegawa, Chairman, Japan Advisory Committee on Global Governance & Former Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Timor-Leste.

Prof. Raj Kumar, delivered a speech on the Indo-Japan relationship, framing it as a cornerstone for collective progress and prosperity. He said, “The India-Japan relationship is undoubtedly the most important and critical relationship in the Indo-Pacific region.”

He articulated five key points, encapsulating the historical, cultural, economic, political and strategic dimensions of the bilateral ties between India and Japan. “We have deep-rooted ties between India and Japan stemming from shared civilisational values and cultural heritage, including the profound influence of Buddhism as a religion and philosophy in both the countries.”

He recalled the outstanding courage of conviction and intellectual integrity of the distinguished Indian jurist, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Radha Binod Pal, former Judge of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, for his contribution to equity, justice and fairness in Tokyo Trials by ensuring that international criminal justice does not perpetuate the “victor’s justice” phenomenon. He was one of three Asian judges appointed to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, the ‘Tokyo Trials’ of Japanese war crimes committed during the World War II. Among all the judges of the tribunal, he was the only one who submitted a judgment which insisted all defendants were not guilty, Prof. Raj Kumar said. He emphasised the enduring people-to-people connections that serve as a foundation for the collaboration between both the countries in various sectors, which need greater expansion and deeper engagement.

The Vice Chancellor highlighted India’s historical support for Japan’s political development post-World War II, recognising Japan’s sovereignty and integrity. He emphasised India’s role in nurturing Japan’s resurgence and progress. India’s early support to Japan for recognising its sovereignty was unequivocal and came at a time when most counties of the world were reluctant to do so in early 1950s. Drawing parallels with the evolution of Indo-Japanese relations, Prof. Kumar cited examples such as Maruti Suzuki’s transformative impact on the Indian automobile sector, showcasing the potential for innovation and economic collaboration. He stressed that this landmark collaboration democratised the access to transportation, especially for the middle-class population in India, and paved way for reforms and expansion in India’s automobile sector.

Prof. Kumar emphasised the alignment of democratic principles, rule of law, and respect for human rights, emphasising the convergence of enlightened national interests and democratic values between the two nations. He underscored India’s demographic dividend manifested through a billion people who are less than 35 years of age, with a burgeoning youth population poised to collaborate with their Japanese counterparts for mutual growth and development.

Highlighting the Indo-Pacific Strategic Construct, Prof. Kumar stressed Japan’s pivotal role in ensuring peace, stability, and sustainability in the region. He emphasised the need for long-term cooperation between India and Japan to address the shared challenges relating to peace, development and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prof. Raj Kumar’s speech generated a lively interest and discussion among the Japanese MPs. In response to questions and perspectives shared by the MPs, Prof. Kumar stressed India and Japan’s joint endeavours within the United Nations, and advocated for their permanent representation in the Security Council and the reform of the UN. Further, he reiterated India’s steadfast commitment to higher education, emphasising the principles of excellence, equity, and inclusion as outlined in the National Education Policy 2020. He also highlighted that these principles find manifestation through the commitment to excellence, diversity and access by offering scholarships and institutional support to students. Prof. Kumar observed that universities such as JGU and other reputed higher education institutions in India foster an environment conducive to promote research excellence and innovation among our faculty for institution building.

Prof. Raj Kumar reiterated the transformative potential of Indo-Japanese relations that need to be built on the expansion of educational partnerships between universities in both the countries. He expressed optimism about the future trajectory of Indo-Japanese collaboration in higher education, envisioning a landscape defined by excellence in research and scholarship, and creation of knowledge through leadership in promoting frugal innovation.